New dad Benji Bolsenbroek said he was 'on top of the world' on the night he died in Linthorpe

A new dad who died shortly after he was involved in a pub brawl was “on top of the world” before the fight, a court heard.

Benji Bolsenbroek was out wetting his baby’s head with a group of friends when they were involved in a fight with another group of people at the Park Hotel in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough.

Seven men and one woman are on trial at Teeeside Crown Court accused of violent disorder in relation to the fight. They deny the charge.

Eight other people have admitted the charge.

The prosecution is not seeking to attribute responsibilty for Mr Bolsenbroek’s death to any of the defendants.

Barmaid Sally Keane told the court that Mr Bolsenbroek’s group was “well natured” on the night of the fight and were “not concerned with anyone who was not in their group” when they arrived.

She said she knew Mr Bolsenbroek as she previously went to school with him. She said she spoke to him in the pub before the fight.

She told the court: “He said he was on top of the world. He didn’t say why, he just said he was on top of the world.”

The court yesterday heard from witnesses who were at the pub when the fight happened.

Stuart Martin who was drinking in the pub wrote in a statement that it was “like a scene from the Wild West”. He added: “I was in fear of my safety.”

Barmaid Ms Keane told the court that she thought one of Mr Bolsenbroek’s group bumped into someone in the other group.

She says the man who bumped into the other apologised by offering a handshake but it was not accepted by the other man.

She said Hayley Crossling, who has already admitted a charge of violent disorder, then picked up a bottle and threw it at Mr Bolsenbroek’s group.

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She said the person who was hit swore at them, demanding what they were you doing” and lunged towards Crossling which made the whole group move forward.

Peter Mullen, who was drinking in the pub on the night of the fight said he felt an “uncomfortable atmosphere” before the brawl.

He said the room was full of people and he was in the beer garden when the fight started.

He said: “It erupted into mayhem in the pub.”

The four accused in the Bolsenbroek group are Blaine McCarthy, 22, of Blackhall Sands, Acklam, Benjamin Jones, 24, of, Hesleden Avenue, Acklam, Justin Heward, 24, of Harrow Road, Linthorpe, and Cain Conroy, 37, of Slaley Close, New Marske.

The four accused in the other group are Paul Kime, 26, of Daleville Close, Beechwood, Michael Kime, 28, of Lambton Road, Grove Hill, Vicki Kilpatrick, 25, of Woodville Avenue, Beechwood and Anthony Conway, 24, of Barberry, Coulby Newham.